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Thomas Lord Cochrane's daring assault at the Battle of Basque Roads in 1809 was nothing short of audacious. Leading a fleet of fire and bomb ships, Cochrane, a brilliant but rebellious Royal Navy officer, spearheaded a bold night attack against the anchored French fleet. In a blaze of chaos, the fire ships hurtled toward the French vessels, causing panic and forcing them to cut anchor. Cochrane's brilliant use of unorthodox tactics created confusion and devastation, trapping many ships on the shoals. Although the British Admiralty failed to fully exploit the victory, Cochrane’s skill and audacity cemented his reputation as one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes, forever embodying the daring spirit of the age.

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Thomas Cochrane's meteoric rise to Post Captain was a whirlwind of audacity, brilliance, and defiance. In 1801, after just a few years of service, Cochrane's relentless daring at sea earned him the rank, Master and Commander, of the tiny HMS Speedy, a 14 gun sloop with just 54 men and boys. Against all the odds, he captured or sank 53 French and Spanish vessels, including the much larger Spanish frigate El Gamo, which boasted 32 guns, carrying a crew of around 319 men.

His exploits not only embarrassed the powerful Spanish and French Navy but also caught the attention of the Admiralty. Cochrane's bold tactics and unyielding courage catapulted him to the top of Napoleon Bonaparte's wanted list, nicknaming him "Le Loup des Mers" or the Sea Wolf.

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The ancient city of Pompeii, frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, offers one of the most extraordinary glimpses into Roman life. Imagine walking through streets where vibrant murals still adorn walls, bread sits petrified in ovens, and people were caught in their final moments by a deadly cloud of ash traveling at 400mph. The city's tragic fate turned it into a unique archaeological time capsule, revealing how Romans lived, worked, and celebrated life.
It’s a haunting yet captivating reminder of nature’s raw power and a civilization’s resilience, echoing through history. However, it's way older than you think - Join Keith as he takes you back to a city caught in a very exact moment in time.

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In the summer of 1799, a simple black slab unearthed by a group of French soldiers in Egypt would forever change our understanding of ancient history. This stone—now known as the Rosetta Stone—bore a decree written in three scripts: Greek, Demotic, and Egyptian hieroglyphs. It was the key that unlocked the mysteries of a lost language, allowing scholars to finally decode the cryptic hieroglyphs that had eluded understanding for centuries. Join us as we explore the dramatic story behind the Rosetta Stone, its discovery, and how this accidental find reshaped our connection to the distant past.

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Welcome to today's episode, where we dive into the daring and double life of Aphra Behn, the first Englishwoman to support herself through her writing — and perhaps the most intriguing spy of the 17th century. Imagine being a playwright whose biting satires thrilled Restoration audiences, all while secretly working as a government agent, risking your life in the shadows of international intrigue!

Aphra’s journey from a mysterious birth to becoming a literary sensation — all while slipping through the cracks of society’s expectations for women — is one of courage, defiance, and wit. Stay tuned as we uncover how she maneuvered through a male-dominated world, using her pen and her cunning to not only survive but thrive!

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After crossing the Rubicon, Caesar plunged Rome into chaos, setting the stage for one of history's most dramatic power struggles. With his legions at his back, he marched swiftly towards Rome, sending shock waves through the Senate and striking fear into the heart of his rival, Pompey. As panic spread, Pompey and the senators fled the city, abandoning Rome to Caesar’s control. In a stunning move, Caesar seized the treasury, and with no one to oppose him, he reshaped the political landscape of the Republic in mere days. The Republic was crumbling, and Caesar’s fateful crossing had ignited a civil war that would forever alter the course of Roman history. The die was cast, and there was no turning back.

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The year is 49 BC, and Rome teeters on the edge of chaos. Julius Caesar, a brilliant general with legions of fiercely loyal soldiers, stands on the banks of the Rubicon River—a shallow stream marking the point of no return. Behind him lies the safety of his command in Gaul; ahead, the looming threat of civil war. The Senate has ordered him to disband his army, but for Caesar, that would mean political suicide. With the future of Rome hanging in the balance, he utters the fateful words, "Alea iacta est"—the die is cast. What could drive a man to risk it all and defy the very heart of the Roman Republic? The answer lies not just in ambition, but in a story of betrayal, power, and destiny.

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Keith has a cold this week (cue the sad violins) and couldn’t finish the research for the podcast he really wanted to do. So instead, he's decided to take us on a thrilling poetic ride—because why not, right?

Join us as he dives into eight of the most powerful and timeless poems ever written. We’re talking about the defiant resilience of Invictus, the life-changing crossroads in The Road Not Taken, and the unshakable confidence of Still I Rise. You'll also get some soul-soothing wisdom from Desiderata, feel the fiery urgency of Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, witness the fearless charge in The Charge of the Light Brigade, and reflect on the fall of empires in Ozymandias. It’s like a rollercoaster of human emotion and struggle—minus the motion sickness. Tune in and get inspired!